My quick rating – 6.1/10. Exterritorial, the 2025 action-thriller from director Christian Zübert, gives us another parent-on-a-mission story. This time flipping the script from fathers to mothers with a hard-edged performance from Jeanne Goursaud as Sara, an ex-special forces operative whose son vanishes inside a U.S. consulate. What unfolds is a conspiracy so layered it plays like Russian nesting dolls of secrets, each one more corrupt and twisted than the last.
The film opens with a brief but effective prologue that establishes Sara as a capable fighter with a haunted past, hinting at possible PTSD without dwelling too much on it. Smartly, the script doesn’t paint her as a flawless superhero. She’s tough, yes, but also makes mistakes. That keeps the character grounded—even when she’s improbably taking down waves of burly henchmen.
The story’s emotional hook is simple but terrifying: Sara is told she was never inside the building with her son. For any parent, that kind of gaslighting is pure nightmare fuel. From there, Exterritorial launches into a steadily escalating action-mystery hybrid. Each time Sara uncovers what she thinks is the truth, it turns out to be another layer of deception. It builds tension nicely, though by the third twist, you might start seeing them coming.
Jeanne Goursaud is compelling in the lead, balancing desperation with resilience, and she handles the action choreography well, especially the hand-to-hand combat, which is emphasized over gunplay. There’s a believable grittiness to her performance, even if some of the physical matchups stretch realism. Just suspend disbelief when she’s throwing around 200-pound security guys and enjoy the ride.
Lera Abova adds charm as a reluctant sidekick with skills of her own, and their dynamic gives the film a few needed lighter beats. Dougray Scott plays Erik Kynch, a morally murky character who keeps you guessing. He’s got that grizzled ambiguity down to a science and remains one of the film’s highlights.
The dubbing (for non-German speakers) is surprisingly seamless, avoiding the awkwardness that often pulls you out of international thrillers. The dialogue holds up, the pacing is solid, and Zübert’s direction keeps everything tight, if a little conventional. Of course, there’s the inevitable villain monologue that conveniently lays out the entire plot in the final act. It’s a cliché, but not one that sinks the experience.
In the end, Exterritorial isn’t groundbreaking, but it is a slick, competently made thriller with enough suspense and action to hold your attention. The predictability of the plot is offset by good performances, strong direction, and the emotionally charged stakes of a mother’s refusal to be gaslit out of her reality. It’s not Taken, but for fans of single-parent action thrillers, it’s worth watching.
This one is exclusive to Netflix as of 05.10.25 but here is a JustWatch link for later.